Four facing drug charges

July 30, 1997

By BRENDAN KIRBY

Staff Writer

Washington County narcotics agents arrested four people on drug charges Monday night, including one who was wanted on weapons charges by the Chambersburg (Pa.) Police Department, authorities said Tuesday.

Those arrested include:

- Carlos Rodriquez Johnson, 18, of Norfolk, Va. He was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and giving false information to a police officer. The Chambersburg Police Department had been seeking him on an unlawful possession of firearms charge.

He was being held on $1,000 bond Tuesday night at the Washington County Detention Center.

- Donald Troy Houser, 24, of 30 W. South Street, Chambersburg, Pa. He was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and giving false information to a police officer. He also was wanted on a failure to appear in court charge in Worcester County, Md., relating to a 1992 battery charge.

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He is scheduled to appear before a District Court bond commissioner today.

He was being held Tuesday night at the Washington County Detention Center on $35,000 bond.

- A 16-year-old Chambersburg, Pa., youth, who was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Washington County Narcotics Task Force Director Charles Summers alleged that a confidential informant purchased crack cocaine at about 7:45 p.m. on Monday in front of Building 110 of the Townhouse Manor Apartments.

Four people were stopped as they tried to flee when agents arrived, Summers said.

The investigation led authorities to Apartment 104, where an ounce of crack cocaine, a half-ounce of marijuana and a .22-caliber, semiautomatic handgun were seized, Summers alleged.

Summers said the apartment is leased to Jennifer L. Harne, 19, who has made a public appeal for money to cover the cost of a double lung transplant. Harne, who was present when officers went to the apartment, was not charged.

Carol Staebler, who has spearheaded a fund-raising effort for Harne, said the campaign will be suspended temporarily on the advice of the Children's Organ Transplant Association. She said the association has guaranteed the $50,000 needed to keep Harne on the transplant list.

Staebler also said that about $18,000 raised by donations remains in an account in Bloomington, Ind.

Dave Speicher, executive director of COTA, said the money can be used only for medical expenses.